New era for womens Football

Looking at means and ways of developing women’s football the country, Fiji FA’s idea of tapping into the secondary schools proved to be a worthy move. #With the top four schools decided to take part in the final phase of the championship this weekend in Ba, more than 700 players have been introduced to football over the past two months. #Around 37 schools in the Southern, Western and Northern divisions were part of the cycle. #Fiji FA technical director Farouk Janeman says the inaugural girls Under 16 competition is just the beginning of many more positive growth for women’s football in Fiji. #“To fast track women’s football in the country, the secondary schools needed to be involved. Over the years the Secondary schools competition has been successfully developing male players and it could do the same for the women code,” Janeman said. #“The technical department decided to concentrate on the U16 level this year as we believe this was the right category to gauge the players and to look at ways and means to further develop them,” he added. #The former Fiji international says a squad will be selected from this championship which will prepare for the 2014 Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Women’s U17 World Cup playoffs. #“The World Cup playoffs are not our ultimate target but a pathway for these young players to represent the senior women’s national side,” he said. #AD Patel and Kamil Muslim College from the Western division booked their spots in the national secondary schools U16 competition which will be held at the National Football Academy ground in Ba. #Adi Cakobau and Vashist Muni topped their group in the Southern division. #The four teams will play a round-robin format with the top two sides featuring in the final on Saturday. #“We are thankful to the various school principals and management for allowing us to promote women’s football. The Fiji FA board headed by president Rajesh Patel, the parents cannot be forgotten as through their approval the girls were released,” Janeman said. # Fiji FA MEDIA# #

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About FIJI FA

Fiji was among the founding members of OFC along with Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. The nation of around 800,000 has traditionally been one of Oceania best performers – second only to New Zealand in the FIFA rankings for men. The Fiji Football Association (FFA) nurtures hopes of one day toppling the giants in Oceania and qualifying for a FIFA finals competition.